Sensor-Ambient Air Temperature: Operation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Dodge Magnum, 2006 Dodge Charger, and 2006 Chrysler 300. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The ambient temperature sensor is a variable resistor that operates on a five-volt reference signal sent by the Front Control Module (FCM). The resistance in the sensor changes as temperature changes, changing the temperature sensor signal circuit voltage to the FCM. Based upon the resistance in the sensor, the FCM senses a specific voltage on the temperature sensor signal circuit. The FCM then translates the voltage into a temperature reading that it sent over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus to other modules utilizing temperature information.